Billiard bed



July 29, 1969 A. M. ROCKWOOD ET AL 3,453,193

BILLIARD BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15. 1966 INVENTORS W M F'uwvviJ BY dfwaJZMhm/n $772 allttg s July 29, 1969 A. M. ROCKWOOD ETALBILLIARD BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29, 1969 Filed Sept. 15, 1966 FIG4 A.M. ROCKWOOD ETAL BILLIARD BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States PatentOffiee 3,458,193 Patented July 29, 1969 3,458,193 BILLIARD BED Albert M.Rockwood, North Muskegon, and John D.

Schroder, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to Brunswick Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 579,734 Int. Cl.A63d 15/00 US. Cl. 273-6 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A billiardtable bed that has its sections rigidly connected by dowels and a fillerplate. Abutting flanges of the bed sections and the plate have aperturesinto which the dowels fit. The upper section of the filler plate isremoved to form a smooth upper playing surface. The bed may be made oftwo hardboard skins with a honeycomb core adhesively held therebetween.Pocket ports, a bumper rail, a ball trough, and a leg structure may beattached to the table bed.

This invention relates to billiard tables and more particularly tobilliard tables having an assembly system enabling the table to bereadily transported and installed at relative inaccessible sites.

In recent years, lightweight billiard tables have become available onthe market. Such lightweight billiard tables replace the traditionalslate bed with a much lighter weight material and also replace the heavysupport beams and legs of the slate table with smaller or lightersupport structures. One such billiard table includes a bed comprising apair of hardboard or other surface skin laminated to a honeycomb core.Usually, the lightweight bed structure is unitary and is included in abilliard table structure at the manufacturers plant, to gether with sideand end rails, cover and legs, and ball return systems where applicable.

It has been found in transporting such tables to installation sites thatit is often difficult to negotiate entrance ways, e.g. halls and stairsin a home, with the table. This has often required disassembly orpartial disassembly of the table with reassembly after the table hasbeen moved to the installation site. However, even the disassembledtable sometimes cannot be navigated through such entrance ways.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and usefulbilliard table assembly enabling a billiard table to be more readilytransported to a greater variety of installation sites.

Another general object of this invention is to provide an assembledbilliard table at the installation site and embodying the assembledfeatures of the foregoing object.

Yet another object is to provide rigidity in a billiard tableconstructed from an assembly which includes a bed portion of the tablein a plurality of separate or separable sections.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an assembly ortable according to any of the foregoing objects in which the bed is in aplurality of sections and including means for locking the sections toeach other and providing a seam which will not interfere with rolling ofballs over the surface.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a billiard table embodying features of thepresent invention and constructed from the table assembly of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the billiard table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view showing the left end of the billiardtable illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bed of the table in FIG. 1 with the clothremoved;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view with the side apronremoved showing the construction details of the bed, legs, and centersupport;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the lines 77of FIG. 2 showing the side apron and the manner in which it is attached;and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the construction of thebed.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in thedrawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention issusceptible of embodiment in many different forms, and it should beunderstood that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGS. l3, a billiard table 10incorporating the principles of the present invention includes generallya pair of leg structures 12 and 14, a center support or brace 16, a bed18, a peripheral rail 20, and a combination apron and ball return 22.

The billiard table is constructed from parts which include a pluralityof bed sections, together with means for locking the bed sectionstogether to provide a flat uninterrupted playing surface. The seam orseams between the bed sections are provided with a surface continuouswith the upper surface of the bed halves to define the continuous planarplaying surface. The bed is covered with a felt-like material, andbumper rails and legs are secured to the covered bed. Where desired, aball return system is attached to the table for returning balls to oneend thereof. In a preferred form, the bumper rail system and/or legstraverse and are secured to each of the plurality of bed sections tohelp rigidify the sections at the seam or seams. Also, where a ballreturn system is used, it is preferred that this also traverse the seamor seams to add more structural rigidity.

In construction the bed by the preferred procedure, a pair of skinmembers are laminated to a lightweight core with a structural mullion ormullions provided along the desired seam or seams. The table is then cutalong the seam or seams, e.g. following the center line of the mullion,such that each table section is faced on each cut edge by a cut portionof the mullion. A locking means is provided to lock the mullionstogether, and means are included to span the seam or seams between thesec tions. The unassembled pieces of the table can be easily transportedto the side of installation, and the table sections are joined by thelocking means with the seam spanner means in position. The table bed isthen covered and the bumper rails and legs are added.

Referring now more particularly to the form of table illustrated in thedrawings, the table bed 18 (FIG. 1) is provided as a pair of bedsections 11 and 13, including a means for locking the sections together.The locking means is provided by the mullion portions 15 at the adjacentedges of the bed Sections, Accordingly, the mullion portions includefour registering bores 17 for receiving pegs or dowels 23. Bores 17 areprovided by drilling the central mullion prior to assembly in the bedstructure and therefore prior to cutting the bed structure into sectionsthrough the mullion so that upon reassembly proper registry is assured.The material removed by sawing the bed in two pieces is replaced by afill or spacer plate 19 of hardboard, or the like, having bores 21provided prior to assembly to register with bores 17. The dowels 23 areinserted in bores 17 and 21 and are adhesively secured in place toassemble the bed as a unit. Adhesive can also be applied between fillplate 19 and each of mullions 15. The table sections can be clamped tohold them in position until the adhesive sets. Fill plate 19 has aremovable portion 19a which extends above the planar surface of theassembled bed as seen in FIG. 5 which is finished down by cutting and/orsanding until it is level with the planar upper surface of bed halves 11and 13 so that no appreciable seam deviation remains to interfere withrolling of balls across or along the seam. It should be noted thatmullions 15 form flanges depending from the bed top and that assembly ofthe table involves the abutment of the flanges with the seam fill plate19 therebetween and locking of the flanges and seam fill plate as a unitby means of adhesive and dowels Each of the leg assemblies 12 and 14consists of generally vertical outer and inner walls 26 and 28 extendingover substantially the entire width of the table (FIG. 3) and traversingthe seam and plate 19. A pair of side walls 30 and 32 are perpendicularto and connnect the inner and outer walls. A horizontal upper wall 34(FIG. 6) and lower wall 36 connect the inner, outer, and side walls attheir tops and bottoms, respectively, and traverse the bed seam. Each ofthe legs 12 and 14 carries at its bottom portion a pair of adjustablefeet 40 in sockets 42 for leveling the table.

A pair of braces 44 and 46 ar secured respectively to the inside andexposed surfaces of wall 28, by means of a pair of bolts 48 andremovable nuts 50. Braces 46 facilitate joining the leg structurestogether by a center support shown generally at 16 which consists of ahorizontal support 54 secured at each end to brace 46 as at 56. Mountedon top of horizontal support 54 intermediate the ends is a verticalsupport block 60 which carries in its upper surface a verticallyadjustable supporting element 62 for supporting the central portion ofthe table bed. Elements 46 and 54 and block 60 are enclosed and securedbetween a pair of side walls 64.

A flat metal plate 66 is attached to the upper wall 34 of each leg unitproviding a flat bed supporting surface traversing the bed seam. The bedcan be removably secured to plate 66 by threaded fastener means 72 andthumb screws 74 so that the bed is further rigidified across the seam.

Bed 18 consists of a substantially rectangular member of preferablythree-ply laminated construction having and outwardly opening concavearcuate indentation 76 at each corner and in the center of eachlongitudinal side to facilitate the entry of balls into the pockets 78when the table is being made for games using pockets, as can readily beseen by an examination of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the specific construction of the bed preferablyconsists of upper and lower skins 80 and 86 of Transite (portland cementreinforced with fiber), or the like, secured by suitable adhesive to theupper and lower faces of a lightweight cellular or honeycomb core 82, ofkraft paper, or the like. A frame 88 is secured between skins 80 and 86around their entire outermost edge portions except at seam spanningplate 19, to enclose the edges of honeycomb 82. Stretched over the uppersurface of the bed 18 and secured thereto around its outer edges by anymeans well known in the art is a bed cloth 94 of any suitable materialsuch as felt.

Bed 18 carries on its upper surface around the entire edge portions aperipheral rail assembly which is at tached thereto, preferablyremovable, as by wood screws 98, as can be seen in FIG. 7. Rail assembly20 includes separate end rails and side rails and consists of a railingportion 102 and an attached cushion 104 covered by rail cloth 106 whichis secured in place as at 108 and 110. The outwardly exposed edges ofthe rail assembly 20 may carry suitable decor, as at 114 to addfavorably to the appearance of the billiard table and prevent marringthereof.

Attached to the underside of rail assembly 20 and bed 18 near theiroutwardly exposed edges is a peripherally extending, integrally moldedapron and ball return trough 118 of generally channel shape which may beendless or in pieces and has an outwardly turned flange 120 and aninwardly turned flange 122 to facilitate its removable mounting which isaccomplished as by screws 124. The lower wall 128 of trough 118 slopesdownwardly from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2, so that ballsdropping through pockets 78 during the course of a game will roll towardthe left-hand end of the table under the action of gravity. This leftend of the apron, as seen in FIG. 3, is provided with an opening 132 inits central portions to facilitate the removal of balls from inside theapron after dropping through the pockets and rolling to that end. Theapron also carries adjacent and to each side of opening 132 a series offour ball compartments 134 in which the balls may be placed during thecourse of the game or stored for future use. Preferably, both the railassembly 20 and the ball return trough 118 traverse the seam line at 19and are secured to both of bed sections 11 and 13.

It is to be understood that the bed ma be used in a variety of tablesincluding those with and Without pockets.

It will be understood that the bed 18 is initially assembled with aunitary upper skin 80, a unitary lower skin 86, a unitary peripheralframe 88 including parallel end pieces and parallel side piecesappropriately joined together, a unitary center mullion 15 extendingbetween the end pieces of the peripheral frame 88, and a centralhoneycomb core in two sections on opposite sides of the center mullion15 corresponding to bed sections 11 and 13. The assembly is laid up withthe skins and 86 on opposite sides of the core consisting of thehoneycomb structure, peripheral frame 88, and center mullion 15, and theouter skins are appropriately bonded to the central core.

After appropriate curing, the unitary complete bed assembly is cut intwo pieces as by sawing longitudinally along the center line of the bedthrough the middle of "the mullion 15. Since the bores 17 are providedin the mullion prior to separation of the mullion into two sections, thebores assure proper registry of the sections upon reassembly when thedowels 23 are inserted in the bores. However, reassembly need not becompleted immediately after sawing the sections into' two parts, and theentire table may be shipped in knocked down form with the bed in the twoseparate sections in order to facilitate delivery of the table intoprivate homes, and the like, where access may be too limited to permitdelivery of the entire table in assembled form, or even the entire bedin assembled form.

In order to assure precisely correct lateral dimensions in the billiardtable bed upon reassembly, it is contemplated that a precisepredetermined saw cut will be made in separating the bed in twosections, such as a 6-inch cut, and that the filler plate 19 will have athickness equal to the material removed by the saw cut. Thus, onreassembly, the width of the bed is equal to the width prior toseparation. After the separate sections are reassembled andappropriately secured, the excess material at the upper edge of fillerplate 19 may be removed, as by sanding, to assure a smooth upper surfacefree of seam lines.

We claim:

1. A billiard table bed, comprising:

a pair of separate sections having side edges positioned adjacent eachother,

each section including a supporting frame of predetermined dimensionsrelative to the desired dimensions of the bed,

each frame including an upright flange extending along the edge thereofadjacent to the flange of the other frame,

each flange having transverse apertures therein spaced therealong and inregister with corresponding apertures in the other flange,

each section including a covering sheet of predetermined dimensionsattached to the top of the associated frame and providing a smooth upperplaying surface,

a narrow plate having apertures therethrough spaced therealong and inregister with corresponding apertures of the flanges, and

means connecting the sections together with the adjacent edges thereofin register and the plate in register therebetween, said plate having asmooth flat top edge forming a smooth joint at the upper surfacethereof, said connecting means including rigid dowels fixed in themating apertures.

2. A preliminary billiard table bed assembly combination, comprising:

a supporting frame of predetermined dimensions relative to the desireddimensions of the bed,

said frame including a laterally centrally located beam extendinghorizontally from a position adjacent one edge of the frame to aposition adjacent an opposite edge of the frame,

a covering sheet attached to the top of the frame having predetermineddimensions relative to the frame and providing a smooth upper playingsurface, and

a spacer plate having apertures therethrough for receiving pins,

said beam having transverse apertures therein at spaced positionstherealong adapted to register with apertures of said spacer plate foralso receiving said pins so that the combined frame and sheet may bedivided into two parts along a line passing longitudinally through thebeam and cutting across the apertures therein, and reassembled byjuxtaposing the mating edges of the divided parts against opposite facesof the spacer plate while registering the mating apertures of the cutbeam portions and spacer plate to assure proper registry of the dividedparts at the joint therebetween, said spacer plate being so dimensionedthat when assembled between said two parts it will have a portionextending above the level of said playing surface with said apertures ofsaid plate in register with apertures of said frame and said plate beingof cuttable material for cutting away said extending portion to providean upper flat smooth edge surface spanning the divided parts as asurface continuous with said playing surface parts with said aperturesin said register.

3. A billiard table assembly comprising a plurality of bed sections eachincluding means defining a flat upper playing surface, means securingsaid bed sections together in positions adjacent each other as a flattable bed including a narrow gap between said sections and plate meansfilling said gap between the bed sections and forming a seam betweenadjacent sections, said plate means providing a surface continuous withthe upper surface of the bed sections to define a continuous planarplaying surface as the upper surface of the bed and means rigidlylocking said plate means and sections in position against movementrelative to one another, a cover material for said bed upper surface,and peripheral bumper rail means on the assembled bed.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises a flangealong the joining edge of each bed section, and depending from saidplaying surface defining means for stiffening the joining edge of saiddefining means, and pin means impaling said plate means for rigidlysecuring said flanges of separate sections in facially opposed positionwith said plate means therebetween.

5. The billiard table assembly of claim 3 including means for securingsaid bumper rail means to each of said bed sections transverse to theplate means.

6. The assembly of claim 3 including pocket ports spaced along the edgesof the assembled bed sections with the rail means forming a frame forbacking each of said pocket ports, ball return trough means shaped forunderlying the assembled bed edge for receiving balls falling throughsaid pocket ports, and means for securing said trough means in positionunderlying the bed edge, said trough means including trough portionstransverse to each seam.

7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein each of said bed sections comprises alaminate including two layers of relatively thin, flat material with arelatively thick, intermediate, lightweight spacer layer sandwiched andlaminated therebetween.

8. The assembly of claim 3 including a leg structure unit spanning thebed sections transverse to the seam, and means for securing said legstructure unit to each of the assembled bed sections.

9. The assembly of claim 4 including registering bores through theflanges of said bed sections with said flanges facially opposed, saidpin means comprising peg means for inserting into the registering bores,and means for securing the peg means in said bores.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 240,461 4/ 1881 Reingaldt 273-111,534,711 4/1925 Hoskin 273-6 2,018,711 10/1935 Elmendorf 144309.133,069,163 12/1962 Schaefer 273-11 3,263,996 8/1966 Braun 273-6 X3,323,797 6/1967 Horton 273-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,032,719 6/1966 GreatBritain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner

